New Blog - www.walkinginto.com

If your wondering what is going on I have moved.  It took a while to settle on a domain name and get a web host etc.  but it is up and running and all my new posts will be going there.  Come and check it out...
http://www.walkinginto.com

Been Negligent

I have been away for far too long, been negligent in many ways to my social network (Google+, Facebook, twitter, blogging) and I am on the path to making amends.  I had a rough couple of months in September and October professionally and personally and it took me a while to find my bearings and get back on track.

Now that I am getting traction again here is a quick update, more specifics to follow.

Reading:

I have been slacking and am way behind my reading challenge but the last two weeks I have been working on catching up.  I have read, and soon will review, the following books:

Life – Keith Richards

Dance of Dragons – G Martin

Reamde – Neal Stephenson

Public Parts – Jeff Jarvis

I am still way behind but I am working on catching up.  Will update my stats and reviews for the above soon.

Diet:

Well I had a couple of months of binging and it took a long time to get back on plan.  I am still down over 100 pounds overall but am up from my lowest point.  I am back on plan and starting a work out routine.  I am looking for the best tools to track and measure workouts, progress, weight loss etc.  Trying to find a synergistic suite of tools that will make it far more easier for me to track what I eat and do and share that info and my progress online.  If you have ideas please leave a comment, email me etc.. More of this to come

Music:

Going to see The Airborne Toxic Event in November looking forward to it.  Looking for other shows to see as there are a few upcoming.  Going to pick up a copy of the Arkells Michigan Left this weekend, heard it was good.

That is it for now, it is good to be back.

Peppers

Picked up some nice peppers at the farmers market today.  I will enjoy stuffing and wrapping some and using the others to spice up some buns and sausages.  Many people don't understand the heat ratings of peppers and what the different colors and textures mean.  Hopefully this picture will help you next time you are looking for some peppers.

Google+

well the past two weeks have been a little weird for me.  I quit my job, started a company, got called back to work (the job I quit) and I started watching Sons of Anarchy ( a fantastic show I would recommend to anyone).  Anyway my life has been completely disrupted for better or worse, which explains my lack of posts.
Either way you will find more of my comments on the world of tech over on Google+
check it out https://plus.google.com/110351653816177811662/posts?hl=en

I will continue to post most of my non techie stuff here, so no worries on your music, diet and book updates here.

The Foo Fighters Destroyed My Shoes!!!!

The Foo Fighters played through a torrential down pour as they closed out Lollapalooza.  I saw them back in 2009 at the Virgin Music Festival in Toronto and they sound ok then.  This time they were unbelievable, the band really tightened up their live performance and the vibe at lolla was amazing.  It seemed the harder it rained the hard Dave and the band played.  They were not stopping or even slowing down with the rain.  They weren't leaving until everything was left on the stage.  The rain did not deter the crowd either.  The show they put on that night was nothing short of epic.
It was the the perfect ending to the 3 day festival, well almost perfect.  It was such a great show and we were having an amazing time at the end of it my shoes were destroyed.

The Dreaming Void by Peter F. Hamilton - Review

With the last book a disappointment I switched gears and grabbed a copy of The Dreaming Void by Peter F. Hamilton.  This is a return to his Commonwealth universe, although it was my first visit.  Hamilton presents a well developed universe, lots of sub plots, a great amount of characters all being controlled and manipulated by aliens and human factions and specifically different faction in the Human artificial Intelligence society called ANA.  All of them competing for different hidden agendas.  This is a futuristic space faring adventure in a universe where the void has been discovered.  A mysterious black  hole like rift that leads to another universe where the Skylords live and the humans that have crossed over lead a perfect life and can change the fabric of the universe with their minds.  However, the void has been around for billions of years and has been know to expand, destroying anything in it's path.  This is called a devourment phase.  Many of the other species live in fear of the void and believe it to be evil.  Humans however have created a religion around it based on what has been called the living dream.  This living dream was something that was shared with the rest of the human race by the living dreamer, who dreamed what was in the void and communicated with the skylords.  The living dream followers have declared pilgrimage and plan to take millions of people into the void, much to the dismay of other humans and aliens combined, tensions and fears rise.  There is a lot of action and intrigue.  If you like a good science fiction book pick up this or anyone of Hamilton's earlier books that take place in the Commonwealth universe.
I give it a thumbs up

Book Challenge (read 26 books in 26 weeks)
Weeks left 17
Books Read 10 remaining 16

3 seconds: The Power of Thinking Twice review

Caveat: Now to be fair it 6:18 am when I am writing this and I have been up working for 24 hours with another 6 - 10 before I can go home (I won't be able to go get any sleep until at least another 14 hours, so my review might be a little lower due to my foul mood and lack of sleep!

This week I read 3 Seconds:  The Power of Thinking Twice by Les Parrott.  To be honest I have read a lot of similar books recently and my review might not be fair as a result.  Concept of the book, don't go with your first knee jerk reaction, take a breath and wait for alternatives to appear and choose. It also talks about the advantages of being happy and optimistic but is very light on scientific detail (as compared to say The Happiness Advantage which goes into great detail on this specific item).  It ends up with a lot of get off your butt and get stuff done talk.  The book is very basic and is a vary quick read.  It glosses over alot of areas that other books provide better in sight into.  Basically by increasing the space between action and reaction you open a new world of possibilities (sounds like another book again).  If you are looking for a light read on a plane etc, you could do worse but if your looking for something to sink your teeth into look elsewhere.

Book Challenge (read 26 books in 26 weeks)
Weeks left 17
Books Read 9 remaining 17

Talent is Overrated - Book Review

I finished Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everyone Else by Geoff Colvin.  The book spends what seems like the first half of the book telling you what doesn't separate world-class performers.  This was frustrating.   The main message of the book is that natural talent doesn't exist and only through hard and deliberate practice to people improve and surpass the average.  It does detail what is considered deliberate practice.

• Designed to stretch your limits 
• repeatable
• no fun
• mentally demanding
• tight feedback loop

All in all I cannot recommend this book.  Work at self improvement and you will get better, but it is hard and required discipline so most people will not do it.

Book Challenge (read 26 books in 26 weeks)
Weeks left 18
Books Read 8 remaining 18

Lollapalooza - The Arctic Monkeys

The Arctic Monkeys came on Sunday early evening to a massive crowd.  With my camelbak filled with vodka and iced tea I ventured to within about 50 feet of the stage.  The ground was wet and it rained some during the set, not like during the Foos where the sky opened up and gave us a great drenching, but that is a story for another post.  The Arctic Monkeys but on a great show playing many of their most popular hits and some less know songs, all of which were fantastic.  The sound was awesome the crowd went nuts when I bet you look good on the dance floor came on.  check it out.

Slow Carb Diet Update

Well last month was a little up and down with vacations, pig roast and ribfests. However as of this morning I am down 120 pounds!
Still lots more to lose but that is 120 pounds since Christmas 2010 (8 months).
If you are serious about losing weight pick up a copy of Tim Ferriss' - the 4 Hour Body. That book will get you on the way to getting your shape and perhaps your life back.

Alarmed - Great iPhone app

I use a lot of apps for many different things on my iPhone. One that I use every day is the free app Alarmed is a great app to use not only as an alarm clock, but as a reminder, timer application. I use it for many of my activities laundry, cooking, timing study times for my children, as an alarm clock, birthday reminders etc.. I use this FREE app every day. Check it out.
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/alarmed-reminders-timers-alarm/id371886784?mt=8

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War - Review

Last week I finished World War Z : An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks and it was a very fun read.  It is told from the point of view of multiple interviews that re tell of significant events that occurred all over the world from the start of the outbreak to the spread all over the world and how different governments reacted to a new reality and a new enemy.  How certain world powers did against this enemy and which ones were better prepared and why.  I would recommend this book for anyone interested in the Zombie genre.  

I found out after I finished it that they are filming the movie based on this book now with Brad Pitt as the star.

Book Challenge (read 26 books in 26 weeks)
Weeks left 19
Books Read 7 remaining 19

Lollapalooza - The Joy Formidable

On the third day of Lollapalooza I had the great fortune of seeing The Joy Formidable! They were great! I had not intention of seeing this band but in the true spirit of Lollapalooza, a friend said you have to see them and we did. They put on a great show and the talent in the band was clear. It was funny to note that after I got back from Lollapalooza Mikel Joliet, of The Airborne Toxic event, mentioned on Twitter that The Joy Formidable's Cradle was a like a punch in the face! How appropriate.
check out The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar or better yet catch them live!

Thanks John!

Lollapalooza - Coldplay tribute

I posted this video I took after Lollapalooza was over, on Google+ check it out Spontaneous Coldplay tribute

In The Plex - Review

I just finished the book In The Plex: How Google thinks, works, and shapes our lives.
It was a great read through the history thought process and general process of how Google works. It is the most recent book on Google and it might be the best. Steven Levy has a solid understanding of the significant events in Google's history and why they did what they did. His stories of how things happen at Google give the reader a frank view of things from a Googler perspective.

Of the books I have read so far for this challenge In The Plex and Re Work are my favorites.
Next book will be for fun


Book Challenge (read 26 books in 26 weeks)
Weeks left 20
Books Read 6 remaining 20

The Happiness Advantage - Review

I finished The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor. I thought it was going to be a don't worry be happy style of self help book. I was pleasantly surprised by data the author presented. The author presents that the basic thinking on the pursuit of happiness is broken. That success does not lead to happiness but that happiness leads to success.
The science behind this is presented from several studies around the world. The author presents 7 principles to help the reader take advantage of the science behind the Happiness Advantage.
This book is an excellent read.

Book Challenge (read 26 books in 26 weeks)
Weeks left 20
Books Read 5 remaining 21

Pig Roast

This weekend I went up to my sister's house this weekend where she boasted a pig roast. We roast two pigs got no sleep and had a bunch of people over for the BBQ. It was a great time, I miss sleep.

SlowCarb Diet Update

I was concerned about what Lollapalooza and my family vacation immediately afterwards was going to do to my over all weight loss timeline. Well when I got back and weighed in I was down. I lost weight while out and having fun, I did do a lot of walking. As of Saturday I am down 106.6 pounds since Christmas. I was very heavy when I started and still have a long way to go but I am excited about where the next 6 months are taking me.

If you are trying to lose weight try slowcarb!

Lollapalooza - Foster the People

One of my new favorites is Foster the People.  They came in in the blistering sun and put on a great show with lot of energy.  They played everything from their Torches release.  I really liked Chin Music for the Unsuspecting Hero, Call it what you want, Life on a Nickel, Pumped Up Kick and Helena Beat.  The crowd for Foster the People was the biggest of any of the early afternoon bands all weekend.    Check them out and grab a copy of Torches.

More to follow

Sorry for the long delay in posting more updates.  I have been driving and vacationing, and generally causing havoc where ever I go.  Coming soon...  Book review the Happiness Advantage, Diet update (Slowcarb rocks), and many more updates and pic's from Lollapalooza.